<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Liverpool step up move for Torres</div><div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Liverpool step up move for Torres <font size="2"> By Phil McNulty Chief football writer </font> <font size="2"> Torres scored 14 goals last season for Atletico Liverpool's hopes of landing top target Fernando Torres hang in the balance as talks continue with Atletico Madrid over the ?27m-rated striker. </font> <font size="2">Atletico president Enrique Cerezo says Liverpool have not tabled a bid for the 23-year-old Spain striker. </font> <font size="2">But BBC Sport understands discussions between the clubs are ongoing and have now reached a crucial stage. </font> <font size="2">Atletico are reluctant to sell, but Torres is believed to be keen to link up with Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez. </font> <font size="2">Torres is currently on holiday until early July, but Benitez remains hopeful of having a deal in place by then. </font> <font size="2">He has drawn up a list of alternatives should he fail to sign Torres, and this includes PSV Eindhioven striker Arouna Kone, Ajax's Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Real Zaragoza striker Diego Milito. </font> <font size="2">Liverpool are reluctant to pay the ?27m release clause in Torres' contract, and Benitez does not want to part with midfield man Luis Garcia, who is reported to be interesting Atletico. </font> <font size="2">Benitez wants to land Torres to provide a spearhead for an assault on the title - and also allow new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks to demonstrate their own financial commitment to his plans. </font> <font size="2"> 606: DEBATE Your views on Liverpool's attempt to sign Torres </font> <font size="2">Torres has been consistently linked with a move to England, particularly with Arsenal and Chelsea, but Liverpool are now at the head of the queue. </font> <font size="2">If he signs, he will join fellow countrymen Garcia, Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso, as well as boss Benitez. </font> <font size="2">Atletico had earlier played down Liverpool's interest, with president Cerezo saying: "We've had no offer from Liverpool for Torres. He's on his holiday and resting. </font> <font size="2">"I repeat that there has been nothing about Torres from any team. We're now working to create a good team for the coming year." </font> <font size="2">However, Gil Marin, Atletico's major shareholder insisted that aTorres is not irreplaceable. </font> <font size="2">"Nobody is indispensable. No player by himself, very good though he is, is able to make a team achieve its aims," Gil Marin said on Punto Radio. </font> <font size="2">"We have spoken to him and told him we would like him to stay. It is normal that he has doubts. It is normal that the offers and everything surrounding them has made him think." </font> <font size="2">Torres, 23, scored 14 league goals in 36 starts this season as Atletico finished seventh in La Liga. </font> <font size="2">The Spanish international's Atletico contract runs until 2009. </font> <font size="2">Torres came up though the youth ranks at Atletico and has been their leading scorer in each of the last five seasons. </font> </div> I'm quite confident we can sign him IF Rafa dont pussy out over 2M.
Well he said he wanted a signing by july 9th, pre-season training. I think that Torres could be the one, but seems as if he doesnt wont to go and athletico dont want him to go.
I think he will go to Liverpool and it'll be good to see him in the Premiership but unfortunately not good to have to face him. He's a talented forward and he'll do well for the Reds.
He will, Morientes was good but he wasn't great and obviously not fit for the English game. There's always players like that but you can't help it. I doubt Torres would be a flop, he's better than Morientes and he's younger so he has more time to develop his game.
<div class="quote_poster">Robinho4Ever Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">lol . . . Liverpool is a poor club they don't have enough money to afford Torres !! hahaha</div> How could you call liverpool poor?
It would be a great move for liverpool & great move for the player. Torres has been linked with "the big four" clubs over the past 3 years & i hoped United could land his signiture but it looks like the deal is almost done for him & liverpool
